The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-30
MR.. DIssToN's RETURN
From a Trip Over the Scene Of His
Sugar Operations

From the Jacksonville (FLd.) Times Unio1t
Mr.. Hamilton Disston and Mr. John L.
Hill returned yesterday from their trip to
Floradelphia and Runnymede, the two new
towns which have been started in the re-
claimed lands district Mr.. Disston is we'll
known as the Philadelphia millionaire who
has spent considerably over 81 0O0, 900 in
Florida investments
One of the late investments in which Mr.
Disston is interested is plant for manufac-
turing the cane into refined sugar. This is
being done on a large scale A representa-
tive of the Times Union called upon him
yesterday afternoon. and gained some in
formation regarding the mill and the inten-
lions of its owners.
The mill is complete in every particular,
and will take the crude cane and, before it
has been turned out in marketable form, it
will be transformed into granulated sugar
equal to any made. 1t will have capacity
Of seventy tons per day.
The plantation on which the mill is stu
ated had about 100 acres in cane this year
All except sixty acres will be used for
planting the next seasons crop. These
acres will be allowed to ration next year,
and 100 acres in addition have been
planted. They expect to have about 500
acres in cane for the next seasons crop
Mr.. Disston, in speaking of the sixty acres
and which will be ground more as an exper-
iment and to see how the machinery works,
gave the following figures: An acre of
ground will produce about forty tons of
cane, which will average $50 pounds of SUI
gar to the ton This would make 5000
pounds of sugar to each acre, or 500, 900
pounds of sugar for the sixty acres 1t is
estimated that the mill can handle the
growth of from 800 to l 900 acres.
y hoc of . L.
entire operation, the erection of the ma
chinery being under charge of Mr.. Henry
G. Morris, of Philadelphia For the practi-
cal working, Mr.. Hazard, a man of large
experience in the sugar mills of Cuba, will
have charge.
Regarding the drainage operations and
the reclaimed lands, which Mr.. Disston
visited while absent, he spoke as follows:
1--WE visited the several lakes and canals
at the head Of our drainage system. The
surface of the lakes have been maintained
at a low level during the past season, and
none of the reclaimed lands have suffered
from overflow during the rainy season lust
past. We are just completing a canal from
Lake Hatchneha into Lake KiSsimmee, hav-
ing already reached the sand ridge on the
northwest margin of the lake. This canal
will aid to rapidly carry off the rainfall, and
will provide a direct route from Floradel-
phia to Kissimmee City and Runnymede.
We are gradually moving the base of our
operations southwark, and will soon estab-
lish a shipyard for building our dredges at
Floradelphia.
"Our operations in the vicinity of Lake
Okeechobee are being steadily pushed for
ward. One of the dredges is engaged in
cutting canal, leading from the lake to-
ward the head of Shark river on the Gulf
coast. We will soon put another boat into
service there, which at one operation will
complete a canal 80 feet wide. Our engi-
neer during the past summer, has had
series of surveys made, under which it has
been established that a perfectly feasible
line for drainage canal exists in that re
gion, and that no insurmountable obstacles
exist preventing its construction.
This work is being prosecuted on line
we have long since determined upon; it
will hold Lake Olxeechobee, which is the
great natural reservoir for inlpounding the
storm waters, at n reduced level and re-
claim several hundred thousands of acres of
rich bordering land in addition to those al
ready improved by our operations. This
canal viii be constructed of sufficient width
and depth 10 fully attain the desired end,
and / am pleased TO say is directly in the
line with the recommendations made by the
st &c agents, who some time since visited
our operations